ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington volleyball hosts South Alabama on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Troy on Sunday at noon at College Park Center to conclude the first half of Sun Belt Conference play.

"The main focus is to be 6-3 at the halfway point," UTA coach Diane Seymour said. "The whole theme of this first half (of conference play) has been getting familiar with other players and how they play. We're very unfamiliar with South Alabama and Troy so it will just be a matter of getting comfortable playing against them as the match goes on."

The Mavericks (11-9, 4-3 SBC) went 1-2 last week with a five-set victory over rival Texas State before falling to UALR (3-1) and Arkansas State (3-2). Seniors Shelby Dickson (outside hitter) and Charmaine Whitmore (middle blocker) have continued their hot play to lead the team. Dickson notched three double-double performances last week in digs and kills, and now has nine double-doubles for the season. Whitmore is currently second in the nation in blocks per set and first in the Sun Belt (1.64).

Juniors Taylor Gross (outside hitter) and Amanda Welsh (setter) are also among the Sun Belt Conference leaders. Gross is fourth in the SBC for blocks per set (1.1) while Welsh is 10th in assists per set (5.62). Sophomore defensive specialist Caitlyn Cooney is currently fifth in the SBC for digs per set (4.14).

UTA leads the all-time series against South Alabama (7-10, 2-5 SBC) 1-0. The Mavericks defeated the Jaguars 3-1 in Arlington in 1995. Sunday marks the first meeting with the Troy Trojans (9-12, 4-3 SBC) in program history.